31 May 2013

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.This is something I rarely say about sequels but: I prefered The Pirate's Wish to its prequel, The Assassin's Curse! I'm plesantly shocked since the first novel in a series is almost always better than its sequels. Cassandra really achieved the impossible with this one. I was totally captivated and the world-building, the romance and even the characters developed so much in contrast to the prequel. The Pirate's Wish is exactly what every sequel should be: better.

There is a great pace to this novel, it a great mix of slower paced scenes with action-filled ones. It is the perfect sea adventure, with pirates and magic, curses and a unique humor. I also loved the building up to the romance, since we didn't get much of it in the first novel. It was so much fun to read, even more so than the first. I didn't know that this was the conclusion to this series when I started it, but now I that I know, it does certainly feel like a conclusion, with the curses broken and the romance question answered. But it was a blast to read just how they got to this point.

The main character, Ananna, is a great heroine. She is sarcastic and independent, naive and sweet. She is not the usual main character and that's refreshing. She is just so strong and thinks about her interests as well as those of the others. She loves Naji but she doesn't let her feelings cloud her dreams, she would make the best of it, even if he didn't like her back. She has a hard shell but a soft core. Naji is also a nice partner for her, he is not as expected. He is not swoony, but nice in his own way. He was way more romantic in this one too (I was even a bit surprised!). The manicore was, in my opinion, the best addition possible! She was funny in that serious way and made this novel even more entertaining.

All in all, The Pirate's Wish was a great conclusion to this captivating adventure. The romance is awkward, sweet and funny to read. The plot feels a lot like the Pirate of the Caribbean films with quest to break the curse, lots of dry humor and an adorable romance. Just what a fantasy should feel like. I really like fantasy novels and this one is certainly a great addition to the genre.

Huge thanks to Strange Chemistry for providing me with a copy for review!

30 May 2013

I'm participating on the Spirit blog tour! Here is a review of this amazing novel for you guys! You will also have the chance to vote for your favorite Elementals guy and the winner will be featured in a short story by Brigid Kemmerer (vote for Gabriel..just kidding, vote for your favorite!). If you want to check more of the stops on this tour, go here (where we are giving away 10 finished copies of Spirit!).

Release Date: May 28th, 2013

301 pages

Publisher: K Teen

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.

He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.

With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

To tell you the truth, Spirit was the novel I was least eager to read from this series. I'm a huge fan of Gabriel and the other Merrick brothers but I didn't know if I would enjoy Spirit as much since it centered around Hunter. I was wrong. I enjoy it, a lot; however I was always happier when the Merrick brothers also made an appearance and they make a lot of them! Spirit was the perfect mix, to make some of us (me included) to like Hunter more and it certainly succeeded.

Nonetheless Spirit is a sad story, full of action, humor and great characters, but still a sad story. Hunter's life is no picnic and by the end of the novel, I realise that at least he's got the Merrick brothers now. It was amazing to see their relationship get better along the novel. Michael was specially an amazing character in this novel. The plot itself was also amazing (as always in this series), full of twists and turns and complications for our beloved characters. Many unexpected things happen and that is always a plus for me, when the twists and turns really come out of nowhere!

I have mixed feelings towards Hunter. I liked him, but sometimes I didn't. I don't know really know why but he just annoyed me sometimes. But I always understood why he did what he did, it certainly isn't easy to be always so alone. I loved his relationship with the brothers and his scenes with them were my favorite in the whole novel. I guess I'm biased. Kate is also a great addition to the series. She is strong, independent and a bit ironic (my favorite kind).

Spirit was a great addition to this series. I know that even though I don't like Hunter as much as I like the others, I know he plays a big role in the story and I'm glad that Brigid wrote about him as well. I was surprised that I liked this novel so much, I didn't expect that. I would certainly recommend this to all fans of paranormal novels out there and of course, people who already read the prequels, you will not be disappointed!

28 May 2013

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

2013 is a sad and happy year for me. Many debuts are becoming new favorites, but also many old favorites are coming to an end. The Die For Me series has been a favorite of mine since the first book came out. Probably because of the freshness of the premise, the beautiful writing and the insanely romantic story set in Paris, one of my favorite (and most romantic) cities in the world! If I Should Die didn't disappoint me and I'm glad that, if this series absolutely had to end, at least the ending was a good one.

I'll try not to spoil so much of the story, since I'm sure there may be some of you who haven't had the chance to read this one yet (what are you waiting for?!). I'm sure many of you had some expectations about the ending, so did I, but If I Should Die won't (shouldn't) let you down. I wasn't very surprised about how Plum's executed the plot and its twists and turns; admittedly I had already thought about or guessed many of the surprises meant to rend us speechless. Nonetheless it didn't make this novel boring, on the contrary, I devoured it. I liked the fights, the humor, the trip to New York, the romance, the homecoming of some characters and the appearance of new ones: they made this book special, even unique in the trilogy.

I'm not going to lie, either, and say that this one was my favorite of the three. I don't even know which one would I choose. However I can say that the characters are equally great in all three of them. I love Kate as a main character and in this one, she is even more independent and strong. Long gone is the sad girl from Die For Me. Vincent is his usual swoony-self, however after reading Die For Her (the novella from Jules' POV - read it now!) my heart was torn between Jules and Vincent. That was surprising for me, since I couldn't imagine liking a character as much as I enjoyed Vincent in this trilogy. But Plum achieves the impossible, or many not so impossible, I guess. I love all the characters in this trilogy and I could certainly see myself reading anything, any novella, released about any of them.

Surely some of you will be disappointed (hopefully not), since you had some many expectations. For me, If I Should Die delivered what I had been hoping for: that happy feeling when you get after ending a beloved book. Maybe some things were missing, maybe not, but I'm happy with how things ended. Kate and Vincent certainly got happy ending they deserved and maybe Jules will get his one too. I don't know if I want Amy to write more on this series in the future, but for the moment, I'm satisfied. Thanks for giving us this wonderful series that will always have a special space in my bookshelf!

27 May 2013

At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.

Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her.

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now.

I'm a huge fan of fairytale retellings and I've heard so many things about Alex Flynn and I knew that I had to read one of her books. I don't know why I have never read of her novels but when I saw a retelling about Rapunzel (a fairytale that is not easily and modernly retold), I just had to request a copy for review. A big plus was also that one of the main characters is called Rachel (sorry, I just had to mention it)!

The thing about retelling Rapunzel is that it's not an easy story to retell it in a modern way. There is nothing modern about locking a girl away in a tower nowadays and maybe that was just me, but I was really skeptical throughout the novel. I don't think it's entirely Flynn's fault, nevertheless I couldn't enjoy the story completely. I know that the magical aspects of the story couldn't completely disappear but there some things that didn't go well with me, like the whole story with the drugs and some cheesy parts which I didn't expect in a modern retelling. Furthermore some things weren't even explained and I just had the feeling that the novel felt incomplete (I still don't understand Dani's appearances and how they knew Rachel was going to be a special child..but I guess that's the fairytale aspect of the story).

The characters fell in the "ok" category. They weren't that special but enjoyable anyway. Maybe a bit too "fairytale-ish" for a modern retelling. Rachel was too naive and just like a Disney princess and Wyatt was the perfect prince, even though the author tried to incorporate some darker aspects into his past.

I'm not saying that I didn't enjoyed it, I did, yet it didn't blow my mind away as a fairytale retelling. Maybe I just started with the wrong novel since Flynn's retelling are usually well-reviewed. I certainly will give this author another shot. Rapunzel IS a difficult fairytale to modernize. Nonetheless I would recommend this one to those of you who are in need of a pleasant and rather slow-paced novel.

24 May 2013

Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.

With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.

As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.

It's a standalone! Really, that's the only bad thing I have to say about this novel. When I read the summary, I expected great things from Parallel and it sure delivered them! With a refreshing premise about parallel lives, compelling and entertaining characters, Parallel will provide you with one of the best reads of 2013.

Admittedly I had some trouble in the beginning to understand what was going on and it IS a complex plot, so you do have to stop sometimes and think about what you read. But that was the beauty of it for me; it has been a long time since a novel has kept me enthralled throughout it. The parallel lives are so different so that you could easily identify which Abby it was, furthermore each chapter's title would clarify about when the scene was happening. Foremost I enjoyed the twists and turns that had been caused by her parallel decisions in the past, so it was really interesting to see how the relationships and events would change because of them.

The characters were really easy to read and identify with. Abby is a normal teenager that is a bit of a control freak (she planned out her entire life!), so when everything went crazy with her parallel calling the shots, you can guess how she reacts. Caitlin was a favorite of mine because she is just unexpected (a beautiful girl who loves physics!), even though I don't enjoy maths as much. I think every character is really realistic, and the romance as well. It's not an insta-love by any means and some twists and turns in her love life were not in the least expected!

I have read many books in this year already and I have to say that Parallel was one of the best. It certainly will be added to my list of favorite books. I'm certain many people won't enjoy that they may have to reread a paragraph (or more) to understand the concept of parallel lives, but for me what won me over was the novelty of it. It was refreshing and unfortunately it's a standalone. The ending is a bit open and that's the only thing still bugging me about this novel!

Huge thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy of this captivating novel!

19 May 2013

An invisible girl is a priceless weapon. Fiona’s own father has been forcing her to do his dirty work for years—everything from spying on people to stealing cars to breaking into bank vaults.

After sixteen years, Fiona’s had enough. She and her mother flee to a small town, and for the first time in her life, Fiona feels like a normal life is within reach. But Fiona’s father isn’t giving up that easily.

Of course, he should know better than anyone: never underestimate an invisible girl.

You know that kind of book that goes exactly how you expect it to but you still can't seem to dislike it? Well, that was Transparent for me. Even though it wasn't full of surprises, I still found the story sweet and a good pastime.

So, the first and probably one of the only surprises I experienced throughout this novel was that I didn't know that there were more people with special abilities. And I was pleased that they found a great excuse for the development of these abilities. After reading this synopsis, I kind of expected to read more about Fiona's life with her dad yet the story goes through this part of the story rather fast. Furthermore some things felt superfluous to me, like Graham's (her brother) storyline and Radiasure (the drug which caused this special abilities but it doesn't play a big role). Her father wasn't a very good villain, either. Nonetheless I fell in love with the world-building; I really enjoyed that many people had special abilities.

Fiona was a different main character; I liked and disliked her a lot. I do understand that it must be difficult to be invisible but she also shouldn't be so clueless this often. Nevertheless I really liked her snarky side though it was hard to take her serious sometimes. Bea and Brady were great secondary characters. However I think that I would have liked to read more about The Pack (Bea's brothers) because they were so much fun to read.

Transparent was a great novel to pass the time but I was actually expecting a little more from the storyline; maybe that was the problem because I had set my expectations so high. I thought we would see more from Fiona's past as a thief. However the romance was really sweet and the great set of secondary characters really added some spark to the story. I would recommend this book to the lower YA crowd.

12 May 2013

Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful—and most hunted—girl in England.

“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.

When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England. Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion... Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

An enchanting story about a girl who can draw magic into being just by singing a song. A plot that is mostly uncomplicated and great characters make for an entertaining read. I was certainly pleasantly surprised that even though things are simple in the novel, I was still greatly captivated by the originality of the idea and its execution.

Lucy was hidden away on an isle and forbidden to sing because it would be really dangerous. Chantress are almost extinct and Lord Protector is trying to kill the remaining ones so that they disappear once and for all. When in London, Lucy finds protection with the Invisible College, who wants to see Lord Protector gone. The execution of this plot is mainly simple but really captivating! However I do have to mention that even though I enjoyed the story, there weren't many remarkable aspects to it. The romance was nevertheless really refreshing, since it was slowly developed.

The characters were all easy to like, even though many were also as forgettable. Lucy was a nice main character. She lacked a bit of charisma, maybe, but throughout I liked her determination to learn magic and to help the others (and even learn more about herself as a chantress). Nat was so swoony! He was handsome but intelligent and as scientist, a bit skeptical about the whole chantress thing, but that made the whole character more unique (if compared to other YA boys).

I would certainly recommend Chantress to anyone. It's an easy read with paranormal aspects and a nice romance. Although I thought the pace of the story to be a bit slow, I think that it was normal for such a series' beginning (Lucy does have to learn everything from scratch). I'm excited to get my hands on the next one; for I think the story will have more bite.

07 May 2013

Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

Reboot was a different kind of novel. Everything was balanced: the growing romance, the amazing plot and the drastic characters' development. While in many novels, the romance rather outshines the other aspects of the novel, in Reboot the romance only added charm to a mostly dark story.

Instead of zombies, Tintera introduces the Reboots. Teenagers who die and are rebooted and come back to life with abilities. Our main character, Wren, was dead for 178 minutes, which means that her humanity is almost nonexistent. While the government misuses the reboots as soldiers, the population rather fears them. Tintera did an amazing job introducing us to Wren's world. Authors often forget to tell us more about the world the characters live in, yet this was certainly not the case in Reboot.

Being dead for so long, Wren didn't retain much of her humanity. She is really cold, serious and determined. But it's Callum (dead for only 22 minutes) who brings out the real (or more human-like) Wren. Her change throughout the novel is palpable. The story with her best friend was also really touching. But I really enjoyed Wren as a main character; she was different from the typical heroine.

Reboot was entertaining and different, action-filled but romantic. The ending was interesting enough to make us yearn for the next novel. While some things did bother me in this novel like Wren's thoughtlessness (though understandable) or how everything turns out as expected. However Reboot was a good enough novel, that these slight problems were easily overlooked.

Thanks to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of Reboot for review!

03 May 2013

Allison O'Malley's plan is to go to grad school so she can get a good job and take care of her schizophrenic mother. She has carefully closed herself off from everything else, including a relationship with Ethan, who she's been in love with for as long as she can remember.

What is definitely not part of the plan is the return of her long-lost father, who claims he can bring Allison's mother back from the dark place her mind has gone. Allison doesn't trust her father, so why would she believe his stories about a long forgotten Irish people, the Tuatha de Danaan? But truths have a way of revealing themselves. Secrets will eventually surface. And Allison must learn to set aside her plan and work with her father if there is even a small chance it could restore her mother's sanity.

So, the first surprise for me upon finishing this novel was the length; with only 177 pages, The Forgotten Ones was a quick read and yet an enjoyable one. I have not often read such short novels and I found myself enjoying it because it cuts right to the point. With some original ideas (Tuatha de Danaan) to refresh the YA genre, I look forward to the next one.

Even though the plot and the writing were things I really enjoyed, I was a bit let down about the romance. I know that Allison has some problems but she didn't have to push Ethan away so hard. I do hope the sequel will bring something more in this department. However, the world-building was enough to pick my interest and I really enjoyed her trip to Tir na n’Og. I really loved this mix of magic and real world.

The characters were likeable and realistic. But sometimes I had the feeling that there just too many side characters. I certainly forgot many of their names throughout the novel. Ethan was, of course, swoony and Allison a really likeable main character.

I do recommend this novel to anyone who likes the paranormal genre in YA. This novel is short and I'm sure you will enjoy it, and even if you don't (which I doubt it), there are only 177 pages! I was even a bit sad that The Forgotten Ones was so short. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel to this novel, even though there was no cliffhanger in the end.

Dream Cast:

With those piercing blue eyes and that "studious" vibe, Alexis Bledel would make the perfect Allison. I had her character in Gilmore Girls, Rory, often in my mind while reading The Forgotten Ones.

I know Ethan actually has longer hair and curls, but Taylor Lautner would be my pick for this character. He certainly is gorgeous enough for the role.

Kellan Lutz would be the perfect Sean. I always have him in my mind when I think about those "big brother"-type of character. He is a friend of Allison since they were kids and treats her like a younger sister.

Daneel Harris would make the perfect Rachel. I don't know if you've watched One Tree Hill but her character there was a bit unbearable in the beginning (just like Rachel) and coincidentally Daneel's character in OTH was also called Rachel! The perfect fit , right?!

Teresa Palmer is my pick for Nicole's character. Nicole is Allison's cousin and best friend. Teresa would be my choice because while she is blonde and pretty like Nicole, she still can be one fierce actress!

01 May 2013

Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

While The Selection was an enjoyable read, The Elite turned out to be a lot better. Many things that bothered me in the first one, were improved in this great sequel and made me look forward to the next one. Even though America still struggles way too much to make up her mind between Aspen and Maxon, the author could distract us from America's rollercoaster of feelings with a better plot and more character development.

This time, the storyline was more varied, not only focusing on America's love life, but also on the other girls, on the war and on the struggle to do what is right for the country. The rebels' attacks do make the novel a lot more interesting, making us question what they are really after. Furthermore I found myself asking what is really going on with the war, and hopefully that will come more into focus in the next one. America tries to be less passive in this novel and actually tries to do something for a change, which is try to change that, which she thinks is unfair in her country. Certainly that didn't work so well but once I did like the idea of America as a princess, even though Maxon deserves someone better. Mauree's storyline was also a nice addition to the plot.

Furthermore we finally get to know more about the other girls in the competition, which was interesting and weird at the same time because I ended up liking the other girls more than I liked the main character! But anyway, America's indecision is the biggest annoyance. She is always changing her mind and never thinking before running to the next boy. I don't think she has any chemistry with Aspen but the author keeps pushing their storyline. However, I was glad when we got to see Maxon giving other girls more attention and I believe that America has some big competition in the selection.

Overall, The Elite was a surprisingly good sequel. With more world-building and the romance becoming less monotone, the plot turned out to be very refreshing and less like an episode of The Bachelor. The Elite also ends in a great note, making us want to get our hands on the next one. How will America's altercation with the king change her participation in the selection? And the big question will finally be answered: who will she pick?